DETROIT LAKES DEFEATS PIRATE GIRL’S HOCKEY 4-1

The Detroit Lakes Lakers built an insurmountable lead in the first period with three goals and cruised to a 4-1 win over the Crookston Pirate Girl’s Hockey team Friday night at the Crookston Sports Center. 

Detroit Lakes carried play early in the game bombarding Pirate goaltender Grace Koshney early before Lilly Burnside broke through with a shot off the pipe to take the lead with 9:53 to play in the period.  The Lakers would make it 2-0 when Burnside found Karrigan Hallisey standing to the left of the crease and she beat Koshney from point blank with 6:24 to go in the period.  The Pirates would go shorthanded with 3:17 to go in the period and just over a minute later a powerplay goal made it 3-0 Detroit Lakes.  Cycling the puck on the powerplay Payton Carlblom found Emma Coley at the top of the left circle and she buried the puck with 2:16 to play in the period.  “That was probably the first period all season where Grace has fought the puck a little bit and she probably wants that period back,” said Pirate coach Tim Moe.  “Unfortunately we weren’t there with our forwards and defenseman to pick her up a bit there.  I thought we did a better job in the second and third keeping the puck out of the middle of the ice and blocking some more shots to help her until she was able to find her game there a bit.”

In the second period the Lakers kept up the pressure outshooting Crookston 17-3.  Detroit Lakes their superior speed to create several rushes up ice, and then were able to maintain the offensive zone for long stretches but couldn’t beat Koshney.  “For the most part I thought all game we did some nice things offensively,” said Moe.  “We’re just not strong enough and skilled enough yet to sustain a lot of pressure in the offensive zone.  I thought we had some nice opportunities, and eventually we’ll score those.  But what I’m most interested in is are we in the right positions and doing things the right way and for the most part we’re starting to figure that out.”

In the third period the Pirates killed off an early penalty before Nora Peterson picked up a puck in her own end and carried up the right side of the ice.  She beat the Laker defense at the red line and continued in before lifting a wrist shot past the Laker goaltenders’ glove to pull within two at 3-1 with 12:17 to play.  “That’s something that Nora is capable of, she’s a good hockey player,” said Moe.  “She made a nice strong move and she’s a fantastic strong skater for us.  She also shoots the puck harder than anyone on the team and she showed all those skills on that goal.”  Less than three minutes later the Lakers would reclaim a three-goal lead when Abbi King wound up a slapshot from the top of the slot.  As it sailed by the top of the crease Coley chopped down on the puck changing its direction past the glove of Koshney for a 4-1 lead with 9:33 to play.  “I think we lost their defense a little bit there and that was the dagger for us,” said Moe.  “The good thing is we play them again next Thursday and its hard to beat a team three times in one year.  Our goal was to make it to the Section Semis at the beginning of the season and we’re going to go down there and do our best to make that goal attainable for us.” The Pirates took several penalties over the final nine minutes and were unable to mount a comeback. 

The Pirates fall to 4-17-1 on the year and will conclude the regular season tomorrow with a 3:00 p.m. home game against International Falls.  Detroit Lakes improves to 6-17 on the year and will undoubtedly host Crookston Thursday night in the first round of the Section 8A girl’s hockey tournament.

1st Period
9:53 – Detroit Lakes – Lily Burnside (Karrigan Hallisey)
6:24 – Detroit Lakes – Karrigan Hallisey (Lilly Burnside)
2:16 – Detroit Lakes – Emma Coley (Payton Carlblom, Madyson Melgard) (pp)

2nd Period
No Scoring

3rd Period
12:17 – Crookston – Nora Peterson (unassisted)
9:33 – Detroit Lakes – Emma Coley (Abbi King, Payton Carlblom)